When Buddha said samsara meant that we each suffer a stream of blood and a stream of tears, you weren't supposed to take it quite so literally!

I hope you recover well.

Funny you say that! The pain medication I received when I got there made tears stream out of my eyes for about nine hours, until the medication finally wore off. It was some freaky and unusual side-effect, that weepiness

Thanks again for all the supportive comments, I really appreciate it. I will most likely need surgery but it should be outpatient.

I did find that my practice helped me to handle the situation far better than I would have in the past. I guess some times it takes an unpleasant situation to really put our work to the test.

Dazzlebling wrote:I've only just seen this thread - I'm saying MB for you.

No need for code - we won't be offended.

Metta,Retro.

"When we transcend one level of truth, the new level becomes what is true for us. The previous one is now false. What one experiences may not be what is experienced by the world in general, but that may well be truer. (Ven. Nanananda)

“I hope, Anuruddha, that you are all living in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.” (MN 31)

Drolma wrote:I did find that my practice helped me to handle the situation far better than I would have in the past. I guess some times it takes an unpleasant situation to really put our work to the test.

I know exactly what you mean -- I was in the hospital with blood clots in both lungs a year ago, a potentially fatal thing (though about 2/3 of patients turn out okay). My copy of the Dhammapada really helped me keep it together.

My mother, who had been a real trooper about the whole thing but was overwhelmed after 36 hours of not knowing what the long-term prognosis would be, finally lost it and started crying and asked me, "how the hell are you so calm about this??".

The Dhamma is a wonderfully powerful thing indeed.

Very glad to hear you'll be okay, hope your surgery goes well if it's needed.

"The serene and peaceful mind is the true epitome of human achievement."-- Ajahn Chah, Living Dhamma

"To reach beyond fear and danger we must sharpen and widen our vision. We have to pierce through the deceptions that lull us into a comfortable complacency, to take a straight look down into the depths of our existence, without turning away uneasily or running after distractions." -- Bhikkhu Bodhi